Heavenly Creatures

Heavenly Creatures Review

By Christopher Null

This film tells the story of two teenage girls, Juliet (Kate Winslet) and Pauline (Melanie Lynskey), who become friends in the course of comparing their illnesses.

Soon, it becomes apparent that each has great artistic ability, particularly in writing fantasy stories, and they begin to collaborate on their own version of the gothic fantasy novel. Soon, the line between fantasy and reality starts to blur for the girls, and in some sense, the two are able to conjure an entrance to their imaginary world, making the friends inseparable. Later, Juliet's parents decide to move out of the country, and the girls are crushed. Slowly, a plan develops to murder Pauline's mother, who they see as the major barrier to their happiness together.

The movie's many forays into the imagination become painfully real when you realize that this film is based on a true story. Directed by Peter Jackson, famous for a couple of gore-fest horror films, this is a serious departure from his earlier work. Thankfully, Jackson's unique style and uncanny ability as a director make this one of the best and most powerful films of 1994.